Deschutes Land Trust announces Nature Nights

Bend, OR—The Deschutes Land Trust announced today its winter Nature Nights series. From geology to dragonflies to beavers and wolves, the Land Trust is offering free, monthly presentations on nature-related topics given by experts in their field. Presentations include:

January 28: Geology of Central Oregon’s Cascades7:00-8:30 pm, The Tower Theatre in Bend

Volcanic activity has occurred in Central Oregon for the past 40 million years, and will likely continue in the future. The volcanoes scattered throughout Central Oregon make up one of the most active and diverse sections of the entire Cascade range. Join geologist Daniele McKay to explore the history of these volcanoes, from explosive eruptions to quiet lava flows. We'll examine deposits left behind by ancient volcanoes, and consider what future volcanic activity in Central Oregon might look like. This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.

February 25: An Obsession with Odonata—Oregon’s dragonflies and damselflies 7:00-8:30 pm, The Tower Theatre in Bend

With evocative common names such as leaftail, jewelwing, and sprite, and more threatening nicknames like “Devil’s darning needle” and “horse stinger”, dragonflies and damselflies have long captured the human imagination. However, there is still much to be learned at the scientific level about these colorful, fierce, and fascinating insects. Join entomologist Celeste Searles Mazzacano for an exploration of dragonfly and damselfly ecology, life history, and conservation, with a focus on the species that inhabit Oregon’s rivers and wetlands. Discover the important roles they play in aquatic food chains, the threats they face, and their intriguing behaviors, such as the large annual migrations. This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online.

March 18: Beavers, Wolves, Fire and Logging—Preparing for climate change with new partners, new strategies 7:00-8:30 pm, The Tower Theatre in Bend

Climate change is changing the face of the natural world. As we prepare for these changes, we have a chance to renew our partnership with natural world to compliment wildlife and human efforts to restore rivers and the lands around them. Join hydrologist Suzanne Fouty for a look at the role beavers play in transforming landscapes from water-poor to water-rich, and the critical contribution that wolves, fire, and logging have in restoring health to our landscape. We’ll explore the connections, challenges, and opportunities these partners and strategies present using water as a guide and measure of success. This presentation is free, but you must get your ticket online. Ticket sales open one month prior to the event.

Nature Nights are free, but a ticket is required. Please register online

The Deschutes Land Trust conserves land for wildlife, scenic views, and local communities. As Central Oregon’s only nationally accredited and locally-based land trust, the Deschutes Land Trust has protected more than 8,700 acres since 1995. For more information on the Deschutes Land Trust, contact us at (541) 330-0017 or visit www.deschuteslandtrust.org.